RAWALPINDI: Security forces and police killed 49 militants in a series of intelligence-based operations carried out across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan over the past few days, the military’s media wing said on Friday.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operations were conducted as part of an intensified counterterrorism campaign targeting militant networks in different parts of the two provinces.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 12 militants were killed during separate intelligence-based operations in Bannu, North Waziristan, Orakzai and Khyber districts.
ISPR said security personnel recovered and destroyed explosives, improvised explosive device detonating remotes, weapons, ammunition and motorcycles during the operations.
In Balochistan, 37 militants were killed in 10 intelligence-based operations conducted in Mastung, Mach, Khuzdar and Panjgur districts, according to the statement.
The military said weapons, drums containing explosives and remote-detonation equipment were also seized and destroyed during the Balochistan operations.
ISPR described the militants targeted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as belonging to “Fitna Al Khwarij” and those in Balochistan as associated with “Fitna Al Hindustan”, terms used by the state for certain militant networks. It also alleged that the groups were receiving support from India. The allegation was not independently verified in the statement.
Security forces were continuing clearance operations in the affected areas to locate any remaining militants, ISPR said.
The military added that counterterrorism operations under the Azm-e-Istehkam framework would continue in coordination with law-enforcement agencies as part of efforts to dismantle militant networks and prevent further attacks.
The campaign was approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan and forms part of the government’s broader counterterrorism strategy.
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